Trailing arm shims
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: shrewsbury Pa.
Trailing arm shims
Replacing the trailing arms and wheel bearing assembly's on my 70 vette. never done these before, but have everything off at this point, with new ones on the way. Question,........The shims that were on these arms were not like the one's Ive seen pictured in parts books or on line. Instead of being open, or slotted on one end to make it possible to slide them in place after bolt is loosly installed, both ends have a hole to stick the bolt through. Thought this was stange. Also had no cotter pin at lower end which I guess would not be neccesary with this style of shim. Might these shims be original factory ones. Just curious.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Mukilteo Washington
Replacing the trailing arms and wheel bearing assembly's on my 70 vette. never done these before, but have everything off at this point, with new ones on the way. Question,........The shims that were on these arms were not like the one's Ive seen pictured in parts books or on line. Instead of being open, or slotted on one end to make it possible to slide them in place after bolt is loosly installed, both ends have a hole to stick the bolt through. Thought this was stange. Also had no cotter pin at lower end which I guess would not be neccesary with this style of shim. Might these shims be original factory ones. Just curious.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Replacing the trailing arms and wheel bearing assembly's on my 70 vette. never done these before, but have everything off at this point, with new ones on the way. Question,........The shims that were on these arms were not like the one's Ive seen pictured in parts books or on line. Instead of being open, or slotted on one end to make it possible to slide them in place after bolt is loosly installed, both ends have a hole to stick the bolt through. Thought this was stange. Also had no cotter pin at lower end which I guess would not be neccesary with this style of shim. Might these shims be original factory ones. Just curious.And yes, they're a PITA. That's why GM went to the slotted shims. You only need the non-slotteds if you're doing a 100-point factory restoration.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
My 68 had the stock shims you speak of where there were hols on both ends, no slot.
Since removing the TA bolt is a PIA with the body on, I made sure I got the stainless steel slotted shims from VBP with my suspension kit.
The slotted ones will allow the alignment shop to adjust much easier. I drilled a hole in the frame pocket and bought a long cotter pin to secure the shims. I believe the later C3's came from the factory with the slotted shims and hole in the frame.
Stainless slotted shims are the way to go!
Don't secure anything down permanently until your alignment is finalized!
Since removing the TA bolt is a PIA with the body on, I made sure I got the stainless steel slotted shims from VBP with my suspension kit.
The slotted ones will allow the alignment shop to adjust much easier. I drilled a hole in the frame pocket and bought a long cotter pin to secure the shims. I believe the later C3's came from the factory with the slotted shims and hole in the frame.
Stainless slotted shims are the way to go!
Don't secure anything down permanently until your alignment is finalized!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: shrewsbury Pa.
My 68 had the stock shims you speak of where there were hols on both ends, no slot.
Since removing the TA bolt is a PIA with the body on, I made sure I got the stainless steel slotted shims from VBP with my suspension kit.
The slotted ones will allow the alignment shop to adjust much easier. I drilled a hole in the frame pocket and bought a long cotter pin to secure the shims. I believe the later C3's came from the factory with the slotted shims and hole in the frame.
Stainless slotted shims are the way to go! Don't secure anything down permanently until your alignment is finalized!
Since removing the TA bolt is a PIA with the body on, I made sure I got the stainless steel slotted shims from VBP with my suspension kit.
The slotted ones will allow the alignment shop to adjust much easier. I drilled a hole in the frame pocket and bought a long cotter pin to secure the shims. I believe the later C3's came from the factory with the slotted shims and hole in the frame.
Stainless slotted shims are the way to go!
Don't secure anything down permanently until your alignment is finalized!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Sounds like your car was made after the change to slotted shims had been determined, but while they were using up the older shims. That or it was aligned by a shop that had a supply of them laying around...
